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Welshman Ncube takes on Tshabangu
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Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) acting leader, Welshman Ncube, has taken legal action against Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed interim secretary-general of the party, seeking to prevent him from making changes to the party's leadership in Parliament.
In a High Court application filed in Bulawayo, Ncube is seeking an order to restrain Tshabangu from removing party members from key parliamentary positions. The action comes after Tshabangu recently removed Lynette Karenyi-Kore, the CCC leader of the opposition in Parliament, and Edwin Mushoriwa from his position as the opposition chief whip. Tshabangu also replaced several Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairpersons with new appointments.
The urgent application, filed on behalf of Ncube, Karenyi-Kore, Mushoriwa, and the CCC party, also requests the court to stop National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda from announcing the changes made by Tshabangu.
In his founding affidavit, Ncube argues that Tshabangu had no authority to make these changes without a resolution from the CCC's party organs. Ncube contends that Mushoriwa's appointment as chief whip was democratically approved by the party following a formal resolution by the CCC Parliamentary Caucus. He claims that the actions of Tshabangu, including his appointment of Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa as the opposition chief whip, are not in line with the National Constitution and parliamentary standing orders.
"I contend that neither the 1st Respondent (Tshabangu) nor the 2nd Respondent (Mlotshwa) has the authority to remove the 5th Applicant (Mushoriwa) from his position as Opposition Chief Whip in the National Assembly without a resolution from the organs of the CCC," Ncube stated in his affidavit.
Ncube further criticized Tshabangu's self-appointment to the position of "overall Leader of the Opposition" in Parliament, describing it as a violation of the party's hierarchy and organizational integrity. He accused Tshabangu of undermining the party's structure and threatening members of Parliament with recalls despite being interdicted by court order from doing so.
The dispute comes amid ongoing internal divisions within the CCC following the resignation of former party leader Nelson Chamisa in January this year. Chamisa's resignation came after Tshabangu initiated the recall of CCC Members of Parliament, which led to by-elections. Ncube, who was appointed leader of the faction that split from Chamisa's CCC, has now sought the court's intervention to assert control over the party's parliamentary leadership.
The High Court's decision on the matter could have significant implications for the CCC as it seeks to resolve its internal disputes and maintain its parliamentary presence.
In a High Court application filed in Bulawayo, Ncube is seeking an order to restrain Tshabangu from removing party members from key parliamentary positions. The action comes after Tshabangu recently removed Lynette Karenyi-Kore, the CCC leader of the opposition in Parliament, and Edwin Mushoriwa from his position as the opposition chief whip. Tshabangu also replaced several Parliamentary Portfolio Committee chairpersons with new appointments.
The urgent application, filed on behalf of Ncube, Karenyi-Kore, Mushoriwa, and the CCC party, also requests the court to stop National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda from announcing the changes made by Tshabangu.
In his founding affidavit, Ncube argues that Tshabangu had no authority to make these changes without a resolution from the CCC's party organs. Ncube contends that Mushoriwa's appointment as chief whip was democratically approved by the party following a formal resolution by the CCC Parliamentary Caucus. He claims that the actions of Tshabangu, including his appointment of Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa as the opposition chief whip, are not in line with the National Constitution and parliamentary standing orders.
"I contend that neither the 1st Respondent (Tshabangu) nor the 2nd Respondent (Mlotshwa) has the authority to remove the 5th Applicant (Mushoriwa) from his position as Opposition Chief Whip in the National Assembly without a resolution from the organs of the CCC," Ncube stated in his affidavit.
Ncube further criticized Tshabangu's self-appointment to the position of "overall Leader of the Opposition" in Parliament, describing it as a violation of the party's hierarchy and organizational integrity. He accused Tshabangu of undermining the party's structure and threatening members of Parliament with recalls despite being interdicted by court order from doing so.
The dispute comes amid ongoing internal divisions within the CCC following the resignation of former party leader Nelson Chamisa in January this year. Chamisa's resignation came after Tshabangu initiated the recall of CCC Members of Parliament, which led to by-elections. Ncube, who was appointed leader of the faction that split from Chamisa's CCC, has now sought the court's intervention to assert control over the party's parliamentary leadership.
The High Court's decision on the matter could have significant implications for the CCC as it seeks to resolve its internal disputes and maintain its parliamentary presence.
Source - newsday
